Discover Contemporary Shona Slang
A community-driven dictionary of modern Zimbabwean expressions
All Words(361 words)
A relaxed hang-out spot for friends to gather, eat, drink, and unwind.
(GOSH-toh) — noun, hang-out slang. Meaning: a laid-back chill spot where the crew can kick back, snack, sip, and talk endless nonsense without anyone policing the volume. Atmosphere: plastic chairs, Bluetooth speaker on 7 %, braai smoke drifting, someone whipping out a deck of cards just as the sun sets.
"Ndiribho pagoshto wangu, takacooler down. Huya nemakuvha"
"I’m at the chill spot my guy, just chilling. Bring the drinks when you pop over"
Sexual intercourse; to have sex.
(lahm-LAHM) — noun / verb, after-hours slang. Meaning: straight-up sex, the horizontal hustle, the two-person firmware update. Tone: playful, slightly cheeky; used when you don’t want to drop the clinical “sex” or the explicit four-letter alternatives. Synonyms: “bhaudha,” “kupaita,” “raw sauce,” “kunanganisa,” “checking oil (advanced version).”
"Kana phone yangu iri paDo-Not-Disturb mode, wotongoziva tinenge tichirova lam-lam"
"If my phone is on Do-Not-Disturb, assume we’re busy having sex "
To call, ring, blow up someone’s phone.
To place a phone call, to ring someone. Typical vibe: unexpected ringtone that pops up at the most inconvenient moment, ex’s telepathy, boss’s weekend “quick check,” or mom’s “where are you?” radar.
"Wangu! Gaya Primrose akazondibvoda ndine rimwe beda takadya relax - haa mood yakachinja fast"
"My guy, just imagine Primrose decided to call me while I was mid-Netflix date - instant plot twist."
A red-light zone; physical street or online space where sex workers advertise and secure clients.
Street meaning: Any red-light district or hunting ground for sex work. Can be physical (Avenues after dusk) or digital (Tinder, spicy Twitter DMs). Evolving map, 1990s: Avenues + bar corridors. 2020s: Swipe left, pay later. Match-day: VIP stand suddenly flooded with non-football “fans.” Spotting cues Surge in ring-light selfies, suspiciously perfect wigs, and entrance fees that spike after 8 p.m.
"Kuvhura site pakati pehusiku yato touchline"
"Scrolling at midnight? Careful, that timeline is pure touchline energy. "
Crack cocaine; small rock-like pieces of processed cocaine base for smoking.
Meaning: Crack cocaine; the rock that smokes itself. Root: from Ndau buwe = stone -> the “little rock” that detonates brain cells. Synonyms: dombo, guka, hard white
"Akamhanyisa phone yamomz kuti atenge Buwe"
"He pawned his mother’s phone to score a pouch of crack"
adverb / shrug-it-off phrase - indicates something is minor, not worth fussing over; “no big deal.”
“Not a biggie.”/ “Minor issue.” Used to downplay hassles, losses, or favour requests, Zim equivalent of “no worries” or “it’s light work.”
"Pressure yei maboss, haaa zvima small-small izvi"
"What pressure boss? That's a minor issue, no worries"
n. The Aviator crash-betting game, or the high-risk gambling habit of chasing its multipliers.
“Little airplane” (from ndege = plane) - the onscreen jet in the Aviator betting game. Usually a one-way flight from $2 airtime to unpaid rent and ghosted creditors.
"Wangu usajutwe nekandege, kanokulatuza homwe yese ukasara uri nzungu"
"My guy, don't be misled by the Aviator betting, it will leave you high and dry"
A girl or hook-up currently “in inventory”; someone you can call on for a date or fling.
A woman kept “in inventory” for hook-ups or chill sessions; casually available merchandise. Origin: lifted straight from retail talk, if Spar can have fresh stock, so can your weekend roster. The tone is mostly playful, can be savage when used to roast a guy who thinks he’s locking down true love while everyone else is still checking price tags.
"Muri kuroora stock rekuma chills futi!"
"You’re marrying inventory meant for quick Netflix-and-chill."
A sharp, powerful slap delivered to the face, often sudden and meant to shock or discipline.
Close synonym: rata (also a strong slap); other variants: zenya, demo, lighter, gwati. Usage tip: In ghetto banter, someone might threaten “ndinokudira mucheka” to warn they’ll shut the other person up with one blow.
"Chaunga chakasheedzera haikona kumurova, ndakazongoona apihwa mucheka"
"The crowd was shouting not to hit him but shortly after I saw someone slapping the shit out of him"
Girls/ women.
The word 'mbaisi' is actually the word 'simbi' (another slang term for girls) flipped backwards and then pronounced differently. The *eee* sound in the letter 'i' is forgone for a more English pronunciation of the letter. Saying words backwards was a thing back in the day called Chibende. (bending words)
"Kune mbaisi here? "
"Will there be girls?"